The first morning, they welcomed their first adventure and headed to Pennicott’s Shed to board a luxury boat that set out down the River Derwent toward Bruny Island for a complete seafood immersion.

They visited a local salmon farm, harvested oysters, and watched the guide dive for abalone and sea urchin before hauling up a crayfish pot. Lunch was, of course, a fresh seafood barbecue with the day’s catch, paired with Tasmanian wines, and then a leisurely cruise back to Hobart for the evening.

Shadowed by a darker past, the family spent the next day delving into Tasmania’s history. Their EXP Guide led them to Port Arthur — the infamous 19th-century prison settlement that once held thousands of convicts. This wasn’t a standard tour; the family enjoyed exclusive access to buildings rarely opened to the public to absorb such intriguing history.

After lunch, the mood was lifted somewhat to a trip north to the Freycinet Peninsula as they were introduced to one of Australia’s most celebrated luxury lodges: Saffire Freycinet. Set in untouched woodland above Coles Bay, a welcome spa treatment, a beautifully appointed suite, and a gourmet dinner welcomed them and helped them settle in quickly.

Days at Saffire moved at an enjoyable pace. A wildlife and wilderness cruise on the lodge’s private vessel took the family along the full stretch of the park’s coastline, with marine mammals, sea birds, and reef life at every turn. Remote and exclusive locations, including Schouten Island, made for an extraordinary morning.

Then came Wineglass Bay, where the walk to the iconic lookout wound through flowering scrub and granite boulders. That afternoon, the family enjoyed a guided tour of a working oyster farm, discovering the island’s craft and culture and learning what goes into producing some of the world’s finest oysters.

Leaving Saffire was never going to be easy after three luxurious nights, so EXP made sure the exit was just as spectacular. A helicopter trip at sunrise gave them incredible views over the bays and headlands of Tasmania, and then from Hobart, they caught their flight to the next stop: Sydney.

Completely contrasting with the rugged nature of Tasmania, the shimmer of Sydney’s harbor and skyline was a brand new landscape to enjoy, and the family’s city base was Park Hyatt — located at one of the most coveted addresses, on the waterfront, neighbored by the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The first evening in Sydney was spent savoring Cantonese food at Mr. Wong, a perfect introduction to the city’s dynamic food scene.

The first full day in Sydney started with a privately guided walking tour that explored the distinct neighborhoods and focused on culinary delights, sampling the food and taking in the stories as they went.

By late afternoon, the family was then guided to a VIP backstage tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Breaking for dinner at Midden to celebrate Indigenous Australian food culture, they then returned to the Opera House to witness an incredible performance — a night they wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

Geared up, briefed, and put through the pre-climb simulator, the family began their final day in Sydney with an ascent of Harbour Bridge. At the summit, the views of Sydney stretched out below them, and both the photos taken and memories made were once-in-a-lifetime.

Back down at sea level, a private yacht charter was waiting for them at Campbells Cove, full of drinks and canapés to take them into the harbor for a sunset cruise.

After enjoying Sydney from all perspectives and a last leisurely morning at Park Hyatt, the EXP Guide led the family to Central Station for the next leg of the journey. They boarded the famous Indian Pacific, one of the world’s greatest train journeys. As the train pulled out of the city, the Blue Mountains, the rolling plains of New South Wales, and a three-night cross-continental adventure stretched out ahead.

Broken Hill, Australia’s first heritage-listed city, renowned as the “Silver City,” was the first stop and appeared out of the red landscape on day two. An off-train excursion with a guide took the family into the heart of this mining town. Back on board, the train continued southwest through Ngadjuri country, and by late afternoon, they pulled into Adelaide. The South Australian Museum greeted them with a private all-access tour, guided by a local Indigenous expert whose knowledge brought the collections and artifacts vividly to life.

The final stage of their train journey brought them to Perth, and a night at the magnificent COMO The Treasury, housed in the city’s 140-year-old state buildings, which gave the family a final taste of Western Australia, complete with a dining experience at Gather Foods, before a flight back to Adelaide and a private charter flight across the water to Kangaroo Island.

Southern Ocean Lodge, perched dramatically above the surf on a limestone headland, was their home for four nights, and the island delivered from the first morning. Strict conservation for decades has created a magical abundance of wildlife, from wallabies and koalas to sea lions and birdlife everywhere — a nature lover’s paradise, in which the EXP Guide showed them the best spots.

Back in Melbourne, the afternoon was spent exploring this creative, food-obsessed city they first landed in. Discovering the lanes, galleries, coffee culture, and energy was yet another entirely contrasting experience from the previous days.

On the family’s final full day, EXP saved the most epic experience for last: a private helicopter took off and followed the Great Ocean Road coastline. Below, they witnessed the Shipwreck Coast and its wild, beautiful scenery before The Twelve Apostles came into view. Lunch at a local winery brought the journey back on land, and then the family enjoyed one last evening in Melbourne.